Struggling Atlanta Braves starter Jair Jurrjens was demoted to AAA following another disaster start on Monday, but the righty isn't pointing fingers at anybody else. While many players would be angry at management for not having more faith, Jurrjens said that he can only blame himself for his demotion.
"If you're honest with yourself, I have nobody to blame but myself," said Jurrjens, who was 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in four starts this season. "I cannot be mad at anybody other than me."
Jurrjens called it a "reality check," and said it hasn't been easy.
Jurrjens' struggles are nothing new, though. Jurrjens struggled in the second half in 2011, going just 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA in 41.1 innings after the All-Star break. In those 41.1 innings, Jurrjens walked 19 while striking out only 25.
Further, Jurrjens' velocity has dipped each of the last three years. In 2010, Jurrjens averaged 91.3 mph on his fastball. In 2011, his average heater dropped to 89.1 on the radar gar, and so far this year, Jurrjens has averaged just 88.4 mph.
Atlanta certainly made the right move sending Jurrjens down, and Atlanta brass and fans alike should be hoping that it's something mechanical wrong with Jurrjens -- and not an injury.
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